What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientSilica
Abrasive
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Isopropyl Isostearate
Emollient
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Grandis Peel Oil
Masking
Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil
Astringent
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Butter
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Hordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientTrehalose
Humectant
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Sodium Polyaspartate
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Helianthus Annuus Seedcake
Abrasive
Sorbitol
Humectant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSqualane
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
PPG-15 Stearyl Ether
EmollientAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Butylene Glycol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Silica, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Isopropyl Isostearate, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Limonene, Linalool, Citral, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Simmondsia Chinensis Butter, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Trehalose, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Sodium Polyaspartate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium PCA, Helianthus Annuus Seedcake, Sorbitol, Caffeine, Linoleic Acid, Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract, Squalane, Sodium Hyaluronate, PPG-15 Stearyl Ether, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Carbomer, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Polybutene
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Camellia Japonica Seed Oil
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Salicornia Herbacea Extract
Skin ConditioningRosa Damascena Flower Oil
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
Emollient
Trehalose
Humectant
Collagen
Moisturising
Sodium Chondroitin Sulfate
Skin Conditioning
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Octyldodecanol, Polybutene, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Salicornia Herbacea Extract, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Trehalose, Collagen, Sodium Chondroitin Sulfate, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Hexylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateTrehalose is a disaccharide made of two glucose molecules (glucose is sugar!). Trehalose is used to help moisturize skin. It also has antioxidant properties.
As a humectant, trehalose helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This helps keep your skin hydrated.
Due to its antioxidant properties, trehalose may help with signs of aging. Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules, unstable molecules that may damage your skin.
In medicine, trehalose and hyaluronic acid are used to help treat dry eyes.
Some animals, plants, and bacteria create trehalose as a source of energy to survive freeze or lack of water.
Learn more about Trehalose
